Carpet sweeper



March 18, 1930. w. E. SHERBONDY 17,750,944

CARPET SWEEPER Filed Sept. 23, 1925 4-Shee'ts-Sheet l March 18, 1930. w. E. SHERBONDY 1,750,944

CARPET SWEEPER Filed Sept. 23, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 351,15 WQIM March 18, 1930. w. E. SHERBONDY Y 1,750,944

' CARPET SWEEPER Filed Sept. 23) 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zia W. E SHERBONDY CARPET SWEEPER March 18, I930.

'Filed Sept. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 35 4} MMJN M Patented; Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES WILLIAM F. SHERBONDY, or CLEVELAND, 01110 CARPET SWEEPER Application filed September 23,1925. Serial No. 58,066.

This invention relates to carpet sweepers .of the traction driven type and has for its generalv object provision of a combined sweeper and suction mechanism in a commereially practical form of carpet sweeper that embodies a brush sweeper of a standard type operatable in the usual manner and which is provided with a novel suction mechanism adapted to produce upon the sweeper brush a continuous or constant draft. More specifically my invention is directed to the provision of improvements in a sweeper such as I disclose and claim in my copending application No. 680,753 filed December 14:, 1924, whereby the efiiciency of such a sweepermay be increased'and the form thereof may be such that it may be produced at a cost which will assure successful marketing.

Other objects of my invent-ion will hereinafter he set forth in the following description referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form thereof. The essential features are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan View of a carpet sweeper embodying my invention;

- Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at one end of the sweeper substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig, 4 is an elevational view of the rear side of the sweeper; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken through the mechanism for driving the suction apparatus and substantially along the line 5-5 '35 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of the suction casing showingv a manner of connecting a dust bag-thereto.

In the form of a carpet sweeper which I disclose in my copending application referred to, I place a fan casing on the top of a carpet sweeper casing of the usual type, but with the fan casing projecting into the carpet 5 sweeper casing and with the fan disposed directly above the sweeper brush, and the fan is driven through gearing directly connected to at least one of the traction wheels in a manner not to interfere with the relative rising of the traction wheels when the operator bears down on the sweeper handle in' the usual operation of the sweeper. The fan drive from the traction wheels to the fan proper is such that the fan may be mounted to revolve at-a considerably greater rate of 5!. speed than the traction wheels, and I place a clutch mechanism in the fan drive toenable the fan to be actuated only by the forward propulsion of the sweeper and by mo.- mentum during the rearward movements of 0 the sweeper. Suction is thus continuously. produced within the sweeper casing above the brush, which is effective for removing dust to a dust bag when the-sweeper is being propelled either forwardly or backwardly.

The present invention contemplates certain changes and improvements in the relationship of the elements of the sweeper set forth in my copending application in that the fan drive is greatly simplified together'with the fan casing so that a unit assembly may be obtained in the production of the parts comprising the casing and fan drive. This unit assembly is embodied in a form of simple 5 mechanism which may be readily and efficiently attached to a sweeper casing of the usual construction and the parts comprising the unit assembly are also such that the entire device may be placed in commercial production in an economical manner. Accordingly, in the drawings, I illustrate my-invention in connection with a carpet sweeper having a brush casing comprising end walls 10 and 11 to which aresecured front and back panels 12 and 13, a top panel 14 and gable or bevel panels 15 and 16. These panels and the end walls, forming the sweeper casing, are preferably formed of wood. The end walls are slotted in the usual manner 9 to receive a brush shaft 20 carrying bristles 20 and which is suitably mountedto rotate on pins 21, carried by end plates 22 which are preferably U-shaped to extend outwardly from the casing whereby there is a substantial space provided between the transverse portions thereof and the casing ends. Disposed within the space referred to are traction wheels 24 and 25 in pairs at each end of the casing. .The traction wheels may be 106 mounted on shafts 26 extending through the casing, which shafts are, disposed in slots 27, thus permitting the'usual downward and upward movement of the casing and brush shaft 20, relative to the wheels to bring the brush bristles 20 to bear'on the surface to be cleaned. The traction wheel shafts 26 may be provided with any resilient reacting means suitable for maintaining the casing in upward position relative to the wheels when the sweeper is not in use, and I show spring mem bers 24 acting on the wheel hubs (not shown) and mounted at the middle thereof on bail plates'23 which act as friction cams on the handle bail 21 Dirt pans 37 are disposed adjacent th lower side of the casing 12 and 13. Each pan is pivotally mounted within its inner edge and isnormally retained in dirt receiving position by a spring 37 acting on the lever member 37*.

The suction apparatus may comprise a fan generally indicated at 30 in Fig. 5, formed by a disk member 31, radially extended blades 32 secured to the disc, and a hub structure 33 secured-to a vertically disposed shaft 34 in any suitable manner such as with the screw member 35. The fan shaft 34 is carried by a top frame structure 36 preferably comprising a cast frame having integrally formed bearing portions 36 and 36 carrying a horizontal shaft 38.

The frame member 36, as shown in Fig. 5, has formed atone end thereofa hollow structure in the nature of a housing 39 having at the upper end thereof a bearing portion 39 to receive the upper end of the fan shaft 34. This housing may be of suflicient size to enclose a bevel pinion 40 rigidly mounted upon the fan shaft 34 and a bevel gear 41, meshing therewith and secured ;to an end of the horizontal shaft 38 in any suitable manner such as a screw member 42. The

housing 39 preferably has but one opening,

' ber 36 may be suitably bored to'receive a bearing sleeve 48, supporting the inner end of the horizontal shaft 38 and the bearing portion 36 thereof bored to receive a bearing sleeve ,49 rotatably supporting the outer end of the shaft 38. Intermediate the bearing portions 36 and 36 there maybe provided a-stabilizing arm 50 in the nature of a free hearing which may serve to prevent a whipping action of the horizontal shaft 38 when driven at a high speed.

The shaft 38 is driven preferably by a belt and pulleydrive extending from'tlie brush shaft. The shaft 38 may therefore extend outwardly a suflicient distance to have the end thereof disposed over an end of thebrush-shaft 20 and a driving connection is afforded between the shaft 38 and the traction wheels through the brush shaft, the traction wheels being provided with tires which bear upon small wheels 20, mounted on the brush shaft. One of the brush wheels may I have an inwardly extending hub 20 (see Fig. 4) thereof grooved to receive an elastic belt 60 which may extend upwardly and pass over a correspondingly grooved pulley memher 61 (see Figs. 2, 4, and 5). The pulley in any suitable manner, preferably by a closure disk 65, as shown in Fig. 5.

The foregoing described clutch elements are compactly arranged, as shown in Fig. 5,

The. open outer side of the pulley may be closed but in order to obtain stability, the pulley 61 is provided with a sleeve portion 66- which may extend inwardly a substantial distance into a suitable counterbore formed in the bearing sleeve 49, and the side of the pulley 61 is disposed to bear against the end of the bearing portion 36 and the end of the sleeve 49 and is maintained in rotatable position by the clutch member 63, bearing on the inner surface thereof.

The fan casing is of very light construction and may comprise a pair of cup shaped members comprising the upper and lower separable parts 70 and 7l, preferably formed of pressed metal. These members may be complementary in shape with lugged flanges extending around the joined edges thereof. The panel member 14 of the sweeper casing is provided with a circular opening through whichthe lower fan casing 71 may extend and the upper fan case member 70 may have an opening therein gauged to closely fit about the bearing plate member 44. The two cas ing members 70'and 71 may be secured together by screw members 78 extending through openings formed in aligned lugs or ears 70 and 70 formed about the flanges of the fan casing members at the joined edges thereof. The casing members as stated are slightly flanged as shown in Fig. .5 to assure the sealing of the casing; and the lower member 71 is provided with a suction inlet or opening 72 disposed immediately above the brush. The upper casing member may be secured to the framemember 36 in any suitable manner preferably by screws v73. The frame member 36 has the under side thereof formed flat to afford such attachment for-the fan casing and has adjacent its outer end a downwardly extending leg 36 in the form of a bracket through which screw members 7 6 may extend to attech the bracket directly to the top wooden panel member 14 of the sweeper'casing.

I have 'shown the fan casing members 70 and-71 as annular in shape, with the exception of the rear portions thereof which are flared to provide a short outlet passageway for the dust, and as shown in detail in Figs.

4: and 7, the flared portions of these members are formed to provide a rectangular discharge opening leading to a dust bag 96.

15 Shoulders90 and 91 are respectively on the top and bottom, fan casing members about the rectangular opening and oppositely disposed spring flanges 92 and 93 which are adaptedto receive a rectangularly formed rod or wire 95, to which is attached the ends.

of the dust bag 96, the shape of the spring flanges 92-and 93 being such that the bag 96 may be readily attached to and detached from thefan casingby simply forcing the reinforced end of the bag into engagement with the shoulders 90 and 91 of the fan 'casing members 70 and 71. Thus it will be seen that while the sides of the outlet portions of the casing members are provided with corresponding flanges and shoulders, only the top and bottom flange portions of the casing members are extended and sprung in slightly,

as shown in Fig. 7 thus maintaining the bag edges in a dust sealing relation with the shoulders of the fan casing completely around the periphery of the dust discharge outlet of the fan casing.

In Fig. 1, a dust deflector 98 is shown as disposed within the casing and this deflector 40 may comprise a flat bent metal strip extending from the top to the bottom of the casing walls and it is shaped in such manner that a dust baflle or deflector wall 99 is provided at one side of the casing outlet for deflecting the dust, collected the suction fan 32, into the dust bag. The disposition of this battle portion is'such that the deflector portion 99 thereof facesin a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the fan. Furthermore, it will be apparent that I provide a suction mechanism embodying a minimum number of operating parts oflight weight which may be economicallyproduced and assembled in a unit independently of the "structural assembly of the sweeper proper.

The arrangement of the fan structure relative to the casing is such that while adequate clearance is providedfor the rotation of the Earn-there are no pockets; present within the v fan or adjacent the fan hub for the accumulation of dirt and extraneousmatter. The

I fan casing may be constructed of metal stampings comprising two members made by the same dies and' of light weight, and the 1 operation of the parts issuch as burden "the sweeper drive proper wi but a minimum power takeoff, and, final y, the suction mechanism is incorporated in the sweeperstructure in such manner that an efiicient suction may be obtained immediately adja- ,cent the sweeper brush and the entire apparatus may be used in the customary manner of using the ordinary carpet sweeper.

I claim 1. In a sweeper of the characterdescribed, the combination of a carpet sweeper apparatus including a traction driven horizontal brush shaft, a suction mechanism surmounting the sweeper apparatus and 1n communication with the interior thereof and including a fan on a vertical shaft driven by a horizontal shaft through interconnecting gearing and an elastic belt drive connecting the brush shaft and horizontal shaft.

2. In a sweeper of the character described, the combination of a carpet sweeper apparatus including a brush casing and a horizontal brush shaft rotatable on an axis which is fixed relative to the brush casing, means for rotating the brush as the casing is moved, and a suction mechanismmounted on the casing including a fan disposed on a vertical shaft and driven by a horizontal shaft extending parallel to thebrush shaft, driving means connecting the vertical shaft to the horizontal shaft, a pulley on the brush shaft, a pulley on the horizontal shaft, an elastic belt drive connecting the pulleys and a clutch formed in the top thereof, a fan casing secured to the top of the carpet sweeper casing and extending through said opening, the fan casing being formed by a pair of complementary cupped members, afan within the cas ing mounted upon a vertical shaft, a frame member to which the fan casing is secured, said frame member having a portion resting on the carpet sweeper casing, said fan having. a disk portion extending from adjacent said fan shaft and disposed adjacent the underside of the top of said fan casing, said frame member having a gear housing formed thereon, a horizontal shaft carried by the frame member, bevel gears disposed within the housing of the frame member, and drivingly connecting said horizontal and vertical shafts and driving means extending between the brush of the sweeper and. said horipositively driving the fan when the sweeper is prcipelled forwardly.

'zontal shaft including a one way clutch" for a carpet sweeper of the character described, the,- combination of a rotatable horizontal brush, traction wheels for driving the brush, a brush casing mounted on the wheels and supporting thebrushya, fan casing secured to and extending into the brush casing top, a frame structure surmounting the fan casing and the sweeper casing, said-structure supporting a horizontally disposed shaft, a

' ing compressing cup-shaped members facing each other and secured to the top of the carpet sweeper casing andthe lower one extending through said opening, a fan within the easing and mounted upon a vertical shaft, a

' frame member to which the fan casing is se- 3 sides, of'a fan casing resting on said top and v cured, said frame member resting on the carpet sweeper casing, the frame member having a gear housing and bearing portions thereon,a horizontal shaft carried by certain of the bearing portions, gears disposed within the housingportion of the frame member drivingly connecting the two shafts, driving means extending between the brush of the sweeper and the horizontal shaft, and means for driving the brush.

6. In a sweeper of the character described, the combination of a sweeper casing, and a fan casing communicating with the. interior of the sweeper casing, a horizontal frame work mounted above the sweeper casing, a horizontal shaft having bearings in said frame work, means for driving the horizontal shaft, a vertical shaft, gearing connecting the shafts, a fan within the fan casing mounted on the vertical shaft, said frame work having a downwardly facing hollow portion constituting a housing for the gearing, the housing portion being open at the bottom and bearing means for the vertical shaft closing said housing opening.

7; The combination with a carpetsweeper having. a casing with atop and depending depending into it, said casing being made of twocupped parts facing each other with outward flanges for engaging said casing top, the fan casing extending beyond the top and there having a dischargeorifice surrounded by a boundary portion of the fan casing,

Which depends below the top of the carpet sweeper and is adapted to have a dust bag attached toit, a rotary fan in the fan casing, and traction driven means for rotating the fan.

.8'. In 'a sweeper of the character described, a casing, aflbrush therein, a fan above the brush, a vertical shaft therefor, a horizontal shaft drivingly connected to the-vertical shaft through gearing, a frame member mounted on top of the casing and supporting the two shafts, said horizontal shaft comprising a single member extending to one end of the sweeper apparatus, and said frame member having two spaced apart bearings supporting said second named shaft,-a combined drivin pulley and clutch on the overhanging en portion of said second named shaft, and a traction driven belt embracing said driving pulley.

9. In an apparatus of the character de'- I scribed, the combination with a carpet sweeper having a casing with a substantially flat top, of a fan casing comprising two cupped members facing each other, each having at the free edge an outward flange, the fan casing being partly above the carpet sweeper casing and extending through an opening in the top of the sweeper casing with the flanges engaging and secured to the carpet sweeper casing, a rotary fan within the' fan casing, and means for rotating the fan.

10. Ina sweeper of the character described, the combination of a brush casing, a fan cas-' ing communicating therewith, a rotary brush on a horizontal axis within the brush casing, a suction mechanism including a fan within the fan casing disposed on a vertical shaft,

a horizontal drive shaft geared with said vertical shaft, a frame member supporting the one of which depends beneath the top-most plane of the carpet sweeper casing and the other of which rises above such plane and is formed with a top, a rotary fan within the fan casing, and traction driven means for rotating the fan. i

j In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM E. SHERIBIZONDY.

' shafts and surmounting the brush casing and I 

